XF alumni - where are they now
Al Forno
here:
Title: 24
Government agent Jack Bauer must act quickly to prevent terrorists from setting
of a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. Events are played out in "real time" and the
entire season takes place in one day.
Network: Fox
Status: In Production
Production Company:
Twentieth Century Fox Television
P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213
(310) 369-1000
in assn w/Imagine Television
Imagine T.V.
Executive Producer: Brian Grazer, Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon
Co-Executive Producer: Evan Katz
Casting: Pagano/Manwiller Casting (818) 615-2146
###
FILM
Title: HOUSE OF D
Production Start: Monday, Sep 15, 2003
Studio: House of D, 517 W. 25th St. 4th floor, New York, NY 10001,
212-947-6560, Fax: 212-947-6957
Location: New York City, Paris
Primary Actors: David Duchovny, Tea Leoni, Robin Williams, Frank Langella,
Anton Yelchin, Erykah Badu, Stephen Spinella, Adam Lefevre, Zelda Williams,
Mark Margolis, Gideon Jacobs, Orlando Jones, Claire Lautier
Executive Producer: Zanne Devine, Adam Merims
Producer: Richard B. Lewis, Bob Yari, Jane Rosenthal
Associate Producer: Melanie Greene
Director: Duchovny
First Assistant Director: Todd Pfieffer
Screenwriter: Duchovny
Cinematographer: Michael Chapman
Editor: Suzy Elminger
Production Designer: Lester Cohen
Art Director: Teresa Mastropierro
Set Decorator: Jennifer Greenberg
Costume Designer: Ellen Lutter
Sound: William Sarokin
Unit Production Manager: Blair Bread
Casting Director: Avy Kaufman
Publicist: Peter Silberman
###
Daily Variety
Sept. 9, 2003
Lawless swings back into action on WB's 'Tarzan'
Thesp also to develop own series for fall 2004
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Lucy Lawless has a new role: "Kathleen, Tarzan Aunt."The "Xena, Warrior
Princess" star has signed on to appear in the WB's frosh drama "Tarzan." As
part of the pact, Lawless also will develop her own series with the Frog for
fall 2004.
Lawless will star as Kathleen Clayton, Tarzan's aunt and a publishing magnate
who clashes with her brother (Mitch Pileggi) over how to rehabilitate their
jungle-bred nephew (Travis Fimmel).
"Lucy has a tremendous sense of humor, warmth and grace," said WB Entertainment
prexy Jordan Levin. "She has a fun, larger-than-life personality that will
shape the character of Kathleen Clayton as she makes it her own. That is what
attracted us to her for future development."
Lawless, who's repped by Endeavor, Original Management and Jeanne Newman,
recently cameoed in the theatrical "Spider-Man," which coincidentally came from
"Tarzan" exec producer Laura Ziskin. She spent six seasons starring in "Xena,"
the firstrun syndie hit that ran from 1995-2001.
Thesp is currently working on the theatricals "The Ugly Americans" and
"Boogeyman"; latter comes from "Tarzan" co-exec producer Eric Kripke.
"Tarzan," from Warner Bros. TV, is exec produced by Ziskin, David Gerber and
P.K. Simonds.
###
Title: WITHOUT A TRACE
Fast-paced procedural drama about the Missing Persons Squad of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
Network: CBS
Status: In Production
Production Company:
Warner Bros. Television
4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522
(818) 954-6000
Jerry Bruckheimer Television in assn w/ CBS Prods. and Warner Bros. Television
CBS Entertainment Prods.
(818) 575-2345
Jerry Bruckheimer Televison
Executive Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Ed Redlich, Hank
Steinberg
Co-Executive Producer: Jennifer Levin
Supervising Producer: Jan Nash, Greg Walker
Producer: Scott White, Paul Holahan, Simon Mirren
Co-Producer: Nancy Van Doornewaard, Allison Abner
Casting: Gary Zuckerbrod
###
Title: ANGEL
Fallen vampire with a conscience tries to save souls in this "Buffy the Vampire
Slayer" spinoff.
Network: WB
Status: In Production
Production Company:
Twentieth Century Fox Television
P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213
(310) 369-1000
in assn w/Mutant Enemy, Greenwolf Corp., Kuzui Enterprises and Sandollar
Television
Executive Producer: Joss Whedon, Sandy Gallin, Gail Berman
Co-Executive Producer: Jeffrey Bell, David Fury
Casting: Barbara Sterdahl (310) 579-5245
###
Title: WONDERFALLS
Network: Fox
Status: In Production
Production Company:
Twentieth Century Fox Television
P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213
(310) 369-1000
in assn w/Regency Television
Regency Television
P.O. Box 900, 12/168 Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900
(310) 579-5252
Executive Producer: Bryan Fuller, Todd Holland, Tim Minear
Co-Executive Producer: Gretchen Berg, Aaron Harberts
Supervising Producer: Krista Vernoff
Producer: Michael Maschio, Paul Rabwin, Harry Victor, Dan Fesman
Casting: Angela Terry, Barbara Stordahl (310) 579-5245
###
Title: THREAT MATRIX
Network: ABC
Status: In Production
Production Company:
Touchstone Television
500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521
(818) 560-1000
Executive Producer: Daniel Voll, Michael Edelstein, Emile Levisetti, Jim
Parriott
Co-Executive Producer: John Shiban, Fred Gerber
Producer: Timothy J. Lea, George W. Perkins, Bernie Laramie
Co-Producer: Trent Jones
Casting: Mary Jo Slater, Steve Brooksbank
###
Title: LAS VEGAS
Network: NBC
Status: In Production
Production Company:
NBC Studios
3000 W. Alameda Ave. Burbank, CA 91523
(818) 840-4444
in assn w/DreamWorks Television
Executive Producer: Gary Scott Thompson, Gardner Stern, Justin Falvey, Darryl
Frank, Scott Steindorff
Co-Executive Producer: Michael Watkins
Supervising Producer: Michael Berns, Matt Pyken
Producer: Howard Grigsby, Daniel Arkin
Co-Producer: Tracey D'Arcy, Rebecca Rand Kirshner, David Graziano, Francis
Conway
Director: Michael Watkins
Casting: Cami Patton, Nelia Morago (323) 525-1381
###
>From Daily Variety, Sept. 11:
Tarzan
The plot: An underwear model takes acting class and winds up starring as Tarzan
on a primetime TV series.
Showrunners: Eric Kripke, David Nutter
What works: Extremely stylish show, looks and feels more like a motion picture
than your average drama.
What doesn't: It's just too dark.
Bottom line: WB may have gone to the mythology well too many times. "Tarzan"
needs more soul to give viewers an emotional connection.
Tru Calling
The plot: Eliza Dushku as a woman who realizes she can relive any given day.
Showrunners: Jon Harmon Feldman, Bob Goodwin
What works: Continues "Buffy"-style trend of strong-willed young women in
extraordinary circumstances
What doesn't: Tries to be too many different things at once; tough Thursday
night slot.
Bottom line: The show's "Calling" but viewers probably won't answer.
Jake 2.0
The plot: An IT guy (Christopher Gorham) gets infected with the 2003 version of
gamma rays, and suddenly he's got all sorts of cool superpowers -- and a job
with the government.
Showrunner: David Greenwalt
What works: Cool idea, good-looking cast and a concept that can appeal to
sci-fi geeks -- and the rest of us.
What doesn't: The IT guy's a stud? Only on TV.
Bottom line: "Smallville 2.0" with similar ratings results.
###
Daily Variety
Aug. 29, 2003
FX, CBS seeing Spotnitz
'IQ' pickup no-brainer for Eye net
By JOSEF ADALIAN
Former "X-Files" showrunner Frank Spotnitz is looking to bring both law and
order to primetime, setting up a crime drama at CBS and a legal franchise for
FX.
Eye has snapped up "IQ," a mystery-skein-with-a-twist Spotnitz will write and
exec produce via Sony Pictures Television. Spotnitz has also pacted with
novelist Brad Meltzer and D.C. insider Steve "Scoop" Cohen on tentatively
titled FX hour "The 13th Floor."
Latter project is "really out there," Spotnitz said. Skein would center on a
lawyer who serves as an advocate for dead people who believe they've been
wrongly condemned to hell.
"You can tell all sorts of stories about sin and redemption, and the times when
you think nobody's watching you," he said. "It's a really fun canvas to work
on."
Cohen and Meltzer, who are also exec producing the WB drama pilot "Jack &
Bobby," came up with the idea for "The 13th Floor" and will work with Spotnitz
on the pilot story. FX is developing a script internally; no studio is yet
attached.
Spotnitz is also writing and directing a remake of feature "The Star Chamber"
for FX (Daily Variety, Aug. 7).
As for "IQ," Spotnitz said the pilot script "centers on a character with a
fascinating mind that's not like any other. It's a murder mystery show, but in
the old-fashioned sense. I was really influenced growing up on shows like
'Columbo,' and this show is a great puzzle mystery with a strong central
character."
Acceding to the Eye's desire to keep a tight lid on development details,
Spotnitz wouldn't go into great detail about "IQ," which has a premium script
commitment from the net. He did say, however, that the skein, if greenlit,
"will have a really strong visual signature I've never seen anywhere."
Spotnitz spent last season exec producing the Eye/Sony crime drama "Robbery
Homicide Division," which drew some rave reviews but had trouble finding an aud
opposite NBC's "Law & Order: SVU."
Both "IQ" and "The 13th Floor" were packaged by Endeavor, which reps Spotnitz,
Cohen and Meltzer.
###
Daily Variety
Sept. 19, 2003
Bowman shuffles to 'Buffalo'
Action-adventure focuses on voyagers who track treasure
By DANA HARRIS
Rob Bowman has signed on to direct "The Last Buffalo Hunt" for Intermedia
Films.
Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance Prods. will produce the action-adventure pic about a
band of voyagers who encounter mercenaries, angry local tribes and government
assassins as they track lost treasure from WWII in the South Pacific. Peter
Buchman wrote the script.
Intermedia chairman Moritz Borman and former Intermedia executive Basil Iwanyk
will exec produce.
Bowman's credits include the features "Reign of Fire" and "The X-Files."
###
[this pilot was not picked up for the Fall season]
Daily Variety
Jan. 23, 2003
Fox femme pair to pilot
Eye travels down 'Battle Creek'
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Fox has greenlit a pair of pilots about powerful, supernatural-charged women,
while CBS will travel to Michigan for a take on FBI agents. Todd Holland
("Malcolm in the Middle") and Bryan Fuller ("Star Trek: Voyager") are behind an
untitled drama for Fox about a twentysomething woman who can talk to animals.
Project, formerly known as "Maid of the Mist," comes from 20th Century Fox TV
and Regency TV.
Also at Fox, the net picked up a drama from Rob Cohen ("The Fast and the
Furious") and Jon Feldman ("American Dreams").
Untitled project, from 20th Century Fox TV and Original TV, revolves around a
woman who graduates from college and discovers that she's able to save lives by
changing the course of events (Daily Variety, Jan. 22). Show -- originally
titled "Heroine" -- has been described as a cross between "Run Lola Run" and
"Groundhog Day." Cohen is set to direct.
Fox gets a jump
In addition to greenlighting the Cohen/Feldman pilot, Fox has ordered
additional scripts of the skein as part of its plan to move up the development
calendar and launch some new skeins in summer. Net has also ordered extra
scripts of "The O.C.," a previously greenlit pilot from Warner Bros. TV, helmer
McG and scribe Josh Schwartz.
Meanwhile, over at CBS, the Eye has given a cast-contingent pilot order to the
crime drama "Battle Creek."
Project, from Vince Gilligan ("The X-Files") and Mark Johnson ("The Guardian"),
focuses on an FBI agent and cop who butt heads in Battle Creek, Mich. Sony
Pictures Television is producing.
(Josef Adalian contributed to this report.)
###
Oct. 31, 2002
The Hollywood Reporter
Gilbert back on the prairie with ABC 'Jones' lead
By Nellie Andreeva
Almost 30 years after she rose to stardom with NBC's "Little House on the
Prairie," Melissa Gilbert is returning to the old frontier with ABC's midseason
one-hour project "Then Came Jones."
The current SAG president has been tapped to play the female lead opposite Sean
Patrick Flanery in the period Western drama from writer-producers Chris
Brancato and Bert Salke and Touchstone Television, which has an order for a
pilot plus three additional scripts from the network.
Kim Manners ("The X-Files") has come aboard to direct the pilot, which is
scheduled to begin production next month in Los Angeles.
In the project, set at the turn of the 20th century, Gilbert will play the
sister of Ben Jones (Flanery), who, in a series of strange plot twists, becomes
the sheriff of the border town of El Paso, Texas. Jsu Garcia previously was
cast as El Fuego, Jones' best friend (HR 10/18).
If "Jones" goes into series, it will be Gilbert's first since the 1994 NBC
drama "Sweet Justice." In 2000, she toplined the WB Network's pilot "Finally
Home." Gilbert, who has been a regular on the TV movie circuit, is repped by
WMA and manager Marc Schwartz.
Al Forno
Universal Pictures
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608 - 818-777-1000
The Chronicles of Riddick (Sci-Fi/Action/Thriller)
Primal Foe Prods., L.L.C., 3000 W. Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404 -
310-449-4044, Fax: 310-449-4060
Shooting in Vancouver
(Start June 9, 2003)
Cast: Vin Diesel, Colm Feore, Alexa Davalos, Karl Urban, Linus Roache, Thandie
Newton, Judi Dench, Nick Chinlund, Keith David
ExPrd., Ted Field, David Womark, George Zakk; Prd., Scott Kroopf, Vin Diesel;
Dir., David N. Twohy; Scr., David N. Twohy; Ed., Martin Hunter; UPM, Wendy S.
Williams; PrdDsgn., Holger Gross; Art, Kevin Ishioka, Mark W. Mansbridge,
Sandra Tanaka; Set, Peter Lando; Cstm., Ellen Mirojnick; SFX, Bill Orr; Snd.,
Rob Young; Cstg., Anne McCarthy, Mary Selway; Publ., Lee Anne Muldoon; U.S.
Dstrb, Universal
###
LUKE WILSON
Independent
The Wendell Baker Story (Romantic comedy/Drama)
Wendell Prods., 1901 East 51st St., Austin, TX 78723
Shooting in Austin, TX
(Start September 8, 2003)
Cast: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Eva Mendes, Seymour Cassell, Harry Dean
Stanton, Kris Kristofferson, Will Ferrell, Eddie Griffin, Jacob Vargas
Prd., Mark Johnson, David Bushell; Dir., Luke Wilson, Andrew Wilson; Scr., Luke
Wilson; DP, Steve Mason; Ed., Harvey Rosenstock; LinePrd., Ray Angelic; UPM,
Susan Kirr; AD, Marco Londoner; PrdDsgn., David J. Bomba; Art, John R. Jensen;
Set, Carla Curry; Cstm., Estee Stanley; PrdCoord., Shanti Delsarte, Leigh A.
Wilbourn; Snd., Pud Cusack; Cstg., Jo Edna Boldin; Publ., Frances Fiore
###
SHIA LEBEOUF
Title: I, ROBOT
Status: Filming Outside The U.S.
Production Start: Monday, May 05, 2003
Studio: Canlaws Prods., 3500 Cornett Road, Bldg. K, Vancouver, B.C. V5M 2H5,
Canada, 604-453-4800, Fax: 604-453-4801
Location: Vancouver
Primary Actors: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, Chi McBride,
James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Shia LaBeouf
Executive Producer: Will Smith, James Lassiter, Wyck Godfrey, Michel Shane,
Anthony Romano
Producer: Laurence Mark, John Davis, Topher Dow
Associate Producer: Steven R. McGlothen
Director: Alex Proyas
First Assistant Director: John Woodward
Second Unit Director: Kimble Rendall
Screenwriter: Jeff Vintar, Akiva Goldsman
Cinematographer: Simon Duggan
Editor: Richard Learoyd
Production Designer: Patrick Tatopoulos
Art Director: Helen Jarvis, Chris August
Set Decorator: Lin McDonald
Costume Designer: Lizzie Palmer
Sound: James Kusan
Unit Production Manager: Barbara Kelly
Casting Director: Juel Bestrop, Jeanne McCarthy, Coreen Mayrs
Publicist: Toni Atterbury
Distributor: Fox
###
DAN SACKHEIM, JAMES PICKENS, JR. & FRANCES FISHER
Daily Variety
Sept. 22, 2003
The Lyon's Den
(Series -- NBC, Sun. Sept. 28, 10 p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by Brad Grey
Television in association with 20th Century Fox TV. Executive producers, Remi
Aubuchon, Kevin Falls, Dan Sackheim, Brad Grey, Bernie Brillstein, Rob Lowe;
co-executive producer, Judi McCreary; co-producers, Robert Rovner, Jon Cowan;
editors, Marta Every, Anthony Redman, Lynn Willingham; director, Sackheim;
writers, Aubuchon (pilot), Falls, McCreary, Rovner, Cowan, Katie Botel, Brett
Mahoney;
John "Jack" Turner - Rob Lowe
George Riley - Matt Craven
Grant Rashton - Kyle Chandler
Brit Hanley - Frances Fisher
Jeff Fineman - David Krumholtz
Ariel Saxon - Elizabeth Mitchell
Terrence
Christianson - James Pickens Jr.
Senator Turner - Rip Torn
By ANN DONAHUE
"I have zero interest in politics," declares Jack Turner, an attorney at the
law firm of Lyon, LaCrosse and Levine in Washington D.C. and the main character
in NBC "The Lyon's Den." It's worth noting that the line is delivered slyly by
"The West Wing" alum Rob Lowe, who bailed on the NBC hit after falling out with
producers. At the time, many wondered if Lowe was making a career misstep of
David Caruso-proportions. As it turns out, Lowe is hitched to a show that is
dark, complex and richly sinister -- and destined to be a knockout paired with
Sunday's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
Show opens with Daniel Barrington, managing partner of L, L & L, taking a
header off the side of his office building into the street below. He was a
mentor to Turner and instrumental in keeping alive the younger man's pet
project, a free inner-city law clinic.
Soon, firm topper Terrence Christianson (James Pickens Jr.) proposes making
Turner the new managing partner. Turner suspects the offer stems from his
political connections -- his father (Rip Torn) is a powerful senator on the
judiciary committee.
Taking the position saves the clinic and the job of his colleague, George Riley
(Matt Craven) but comes at a price. Turner becomes embroiled in office politics
that has a body count. Fellow attorney Grant Rashton (a fantastically evil Kyle
Chandler) and his assistant, Brit Hanley (Frances Fisher), make it their duty
to suss out the dirt on the apparently squeaky-clean Turner.
All these machinations occur as the firm goes about the day-to-day business of
suing and settling. Turner deals with an immigration case, Riley is defending a
mentally handicapped man accused of rape and murder, and hovering in the
background are the troubles of client Zero Tech, which is now being
investigated by the feds.
Dan Sackheim's direction clearly sets up the good guys and the bad guys at the
firm, but it also gives the characters who fall in between with just as much
attention. Kudos to exec producer-writer Remi Aubuchon for creating characters
with shades of gray, such as Ariel Saxon, (Elizabeth Mitchell), an ambitious
attorney who tries to navigate allegiances with both Turner and Rashton.
Writing like this sets "Lyon's Den" apart from other dramas this season. While
the twists and turns are entertaining enough, there is subtext to each of the
developments -- all of the various plotlines are tied together by the theme of
family, be it in the form of the death of Turner's father figure to his
client's confrontation with her village elders in Nigeria. If the writers can
keep up this kind of depth throughout the season, look for them to be rewarded
at Emmy time.
Sets are well-appointed with all the requisite East Coast blue-blood dark woods
and antiques -- one of the characters refers to L, L&L's main office as "the
Crystal Palace."
Camera, Mike Mayers; music, W.G. Snuffy Walden; casting, Robert Ulrich. 60 MIN.
Al Forno
FILM IN PRODUCTION
Bailey
Cast
Dean Cain, Laurie Holden, Tim Curry, Jennifer Tilly, Kenneth Welsh, Sheila
McCarthy, Jon Lovitz, Angela Vallee, Munro Chambers
EXP: Peter James, James Simpson, Suzanne Lyons, Kate Robbins
PROD: David Devine, Richard Mozer, Jason Piette Michael Cowan
COP: Chuck Smiley, Paul Painter, Debbie Nightingale, Arnold Tenney
DIR: Devine
AD: Tony Lucibello
SCR: Mary Walsh, Heather Conkie
DP: Gavin Finney
ED: David Martin
PD: Cameron Porteous
ART: Bob Sher
SET: Nigel Hutchins
COS: Kimberley Ann Rush
SND: Rick Penn
COMP: Lou Pomanti
CAST: Clare Walker
DISTRIB: Odeon Films
FOREIGN: Arclight Films
Devine Entertainment/Spice Factory
5100 Timberlea Blvd. 2nd floor
Missisauga, Ontario, L4W 2S5
CANADA
905-238-0060
FAX: 905-238-0506
Shooting: Sept. 8
Toronto, Hamilton, Ontario
###
LORI JO NEMHAUSER
Title: SIX FEET UNDER
_
Dark comedy about a dysfunctional family that owns and operates an independent
funeral home in Los Angeles.
_
Network: HBO
Status: On Hiatus
_
Production Company:
HBO Original Programming
(323) 993-7070
_
Six Feet Prods.
_
Executive Producer: Alan Ball, Robert Greenblatt, David Janollari, Alan Poul
Co-Executive Producer: Bruce Eric Kaplan
Supervising Producer: Rick Cleveland, Scott Buck, Jill Soloway
Producer: Kate Robin
Co-Producer: Bob Del Valle, Lori Jo Nemhauser
Casting: Junie Lowry-Johnson, Libby Goldstein (L.A.) (310) 369-1296
###
JEFF VLAMING
Title: NAVY NCIS
_
Network: CBS
Status: In Production
_
Production Company:
Paramount Network Television
5555 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 956-5000
_
in assn w/Belisarius Prods.
_
Belisarius Prods.
_
Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Co-Executive Producer: Chas. Floyd Johnson, John Tinker, Mark Horowitz
Supervising Producer: Don McGill, Doris Egan
Producer: Julie Watson, Philip DeGuere, Mark R. Schilz, David Bellisario, Avery
Drewe, Jeff Vlaming
Co-Producer: Joe Lazarov
Casting: Susan Bluestein (323) 468-4562
###
KRISTIN LEHMAN
Daily Variety
July 8, 2003
'Century' on Eye docket
_
Attanasio finds elusive 'franchise with a twist'
_
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
_
CBS has picked up the futuristic legal drama "Century City" for midseason. Eye
ordered eight episodes of the Universal Network TV series, in addition to the
show's pilot. Project, from Paul Attanasio's Heel & Toe Films shingle, revolves
around a small L.A.-based law firm that takes on legal issues relating to life
in the year 2053.
Attanasio exec produces, along with Katie Jacobs and scribe Ed Zuckerman."What
everybody talks about is finding a franchise with a twist," Attanasio said.
"The idea of a law show set 50 years into the future is exactly that. It's a
way to comment on the present by using the law as a window into
society."Attanasio and Jacobs said the show takes a more upbeat, rather than
apocalyptic, approach to the future. "What's unique is in the world that Ed
created we've made progress, the future looks good, but challenges come with
it," Jacobs said.
Attanasio and company are currently staffing the show, which begins shooting in
October."Century City" stars Nestor Carbonell, Viola Davis, Hector Elizondo and
Eric Schaeffer as partners in the law firm Crane, Constable, McNeil & Montero;
Ioan Gruffudd and Kristin Lehman play young associates."It's a wonderful cast,
with no holes," Attanasio said. "We're excited to get going and continue
thinking about what the future's going to look like."
###
BRAD DOURIF and JOHN HAWKES
Daily Variety
Jan. 7, 2003
HBO oater 'Deadwood' earns spurs
_
Milch skein expected to debut in 2004
_
By MELISSA GREGO
_
HBO has ordered David Milch's oater pilot "Deadwood" to series.Deal marks the
pay TV network's first series collaboration with Milch, whose credits include
such groundbreaking broadcast hits as "NYPD Blue" and "Hill Street Blues."
The 13-seg first season of "Deadwood" is expected to debut sometime in 2004.
Set in 1876 -- two weeks after Custer's Last Stand at Little Big Horn -- the
hourlong drama tells the story of just and unjust men in the lawless town of
Deadwood. It will incorporate both historical and fictional characters.
"I had always wanted to do a series set in some period where it was legitimate
to explore the genesis of law," Milch told Daily Variety. "What interested me
about Deadwood is that it was an outlaw settlement, on Indian territory, so the
American law didn't apply; there were no laws at all."
For similar reasons, Milch also had researched Rome at the time of Nero.
However, HBO already has a Rome project in development.
Milch, who wrote the pilot, serves as scribe-exec producer of "Deadwood."
Walter Hill ("48 Hours"), who directed the pilot, will serve as consulting
producer and direct several episodes. Gregg Fienberg is co-exec producer.
The series will be produced by HBO Original Programming in association with
Paramount Network Television. Milch, who is repped by CAA, is based at
Paramount.
Due to the differences between the advertising-driven broadcast network model
and that of pay TV, Milch's potential payoff in success at HBO likely couldn't
match what he's experienced in broadcast TV. But the writer-producer indicated
the creative upside of not being a ratings slave makes it all worth it.
At HBO, he experienced "what it means to be in collaboration with people who
only want the work to discover it's deepest possibilities," he said. "That's
remarkable. That's a remarkable experience."
Milch also credited Par execs for bending over backward to find a way to make
the sometimes tricky process of producing in the pay TV world work in this
case. Paramount, in fact, and pay TV service Showtime are currently reworking
their recipe for the series "Soul Food" (Daily Variety, Oct. 28).
"It took a good deal of time to make all the concessions necessary to get this
going," Milch said.
Timothy Olyphant ("Go") stars in "Deadwood" as Seth Bullock, a historical
character who intrigued Milch because he "was a guy who was a brilliant
businessman and cursed with conscience," Milch said.
Also starring are Ian McShane ("Sexy Beast") as Al Swearengen, Molly Parker
("Six Feet Under") as Alma Garret and Keith Carradine as doomed gunfighter Wild
Bill Hickock.
Brad Dourif ("Alien: Resurrection") and John Hawkes ("The Perfect Storm") also
are featured in the ensemble cast.
###
Al Forno
Daily Variety
Sept. 29, 2003
Henriksen lanced for role in 'Alien' sequel
Thesp returns to sci-fi franchise
By DAVE MCNARY
Veteran thesp Lance Henriksen has become the first actor cast in "Alien vs.
Predator," Fox's upcoming matchup between two cult characters.
Henriksen will portray a billionaire industrialist who finances an expedition
to the Antarctic to uncover an ancient pyramid and insists on joining the
scientists on the journey. When they arrive, they discover two alien races
engaged in the ultimate battle.
Henriksen most recently worked in Lakeshore's "Madhouse" and indies "One Point
O" and "As Good as Dead." He also stars in "The Invitation," recently picked up
by Lions Gate.
"Resident Evil" director Paul W.S. Anderson is helming "Alien vs. Predator";
Anderson and Shane Salerno penned the script. John Davis, Lawrence Gordon, Joel
Silver and Walter Hill will produce.
Pic, being readied to bow next summer, begins lensing in late October in
Prague.
Henriksen is repped by APA and manager Steve Caserta at Sanders Armstrong.
###
JOHN DIEHL
Diehl stars in Wenders pic
'Shield' regular signs on for German helmer's next
By DANA HARRIS
John Diehl will star opposite Michelle Williams and Richard Edson in Wim
Wenders' new film for InDigEnt and IFC Films.
A look at anxiety and estrangement in America, pic will be shot on digital. IFC
is co-financing with Peter Schwartzkopf of Reverse Angle Intl.
In-Ah Lee and Samson Muckee are producing for Reverse Angle. Gary Winick and
Jake Abraham produce for InDigEnt. Executive producers are John Sloss,
Schwartzkopf, Jonathan Sehring and Caroline Kaplan.
Repped by Paradigm and managed by Gilbertson/Kincaid, Diehl was a series
regular on "The Shield" and starred in Mark Illsey's "Bookies."
Meanwhile, Wenders is to receive an award next spring for career achievement
from the city of Dusseldorf, where he was born.
Award is named after another Dusseldorf native, Helmut Kautner, who helmed
post-war movies "The Devil's General" and "Under the Bridges."
(Christian Kohl in Cologne contributed to this report).
Al Forno
Sun, Sep. 28, 2003
Akron Beacon Journal
Pickens lands in 'The Lyon's Den'
By R.D. Heldenfels
You've heard enough lately about Rob Lowe, the star of the new NBC drama The
Lyon's Den. He has gotten ink here, a sit-down with Oprah, all the publicity
befitting a star.
So let's talk about someone else on The Lyon's Den, which premieres at 10 p.m.
Sunday on NBC. In the large ensemble -- which, besides Lowe, includes Kyle
Chandler, Matt Craven, David Krumholtz and Frances Fisher -- sits James Pickens
Jr.
The former Clevelander plays Terrence Christianson, the partner who has long
run a law firm which may be on the brink of scandal -- and has sought relief by
including a maverick attorney played by Lowe.
At first it is not at all clear whether Christianson is a good guy or a bad
guy. But Pickens is comfortable with such ambiguity from his years on The
X-Files.
And co-starring in the drama is another nice step in a career and a life that
also includes bowling, golf and rodeo competitions.
``I've been in this business now over 20 years,'' the East High School graduate
told me at an NBC press reception in Hollywood awhile back. ``It's rare when a
project comes along that you really feel so strongly about.... The writing, man
-- it's part Russian, it's part John LeCarre, it's part Shakespeare. There are
these wonderful character studies. It's a morality play.... When all those
ingredients come together, I could not not be a part of that.''
But does he know much about where the implied conspiracies and skullduggery of
the pilot were leading?
``Not much,''he said. ``We do have the first two scripts (after the pilot) and
they haven't exposed too much... just wonderful little crumbs that will lead to
the cave with all the gold and so forth.''
Which means that the character knows more about the story than the man who has
to play him -- something Pickens also went through on The X-Files.
Asked if that's a hard part to play, he said, ``It is. But it's also very
exciting and very intriguing, especially my character, who is so complex.... It
only fuels your acting juices, to want to take that journey with this
character.''
Pickens' own journey through acting began while he was a student at Bowling
Green State University.
``I have a degree in art,'' he said. ``I wanted to be an illustrator, a
cartoonist. Acting was never in my conscious. Nobody in my family had been
involved in the creative arts.''
Then, he said, ``Fate touched me on the shoulder and I answered.'' A man
directing a student production was short one actor and through a friend met
Pickens. After some hesitation, he said, ``I auditioned, and the rest is
history.''
He knew right away he wanted to act. ``I tried to repress it,'' he said,
because he had never known an actor and ``it was unknown territory for me.''
``It's one of those things that, when it grabs you, it grabs you.... I tried to
walk away from it. I kept trying to talk myself out of it. The pull was too
strong,'' he said.
So when he went back to Cleveland after graduation, ``I studied at the Karamu
House for a couple of years, and in '78 I moved to New York.... I spent 13
years in New York as a stage actor. I did some TV and stuff, but mostly as a
stage actor.''
Then in the early '90s came a move to Los Angeles.
``I had done just about all I could do in New York,'' he said. ``And obviously,
if you are an actor, at some point you've got to do film, you've got to do
television. And L.A. is where it is. New York when I was there had a fair
amount of TV and film, but it wasn't like L.A.''
``There was a sense of starting over again,'' he said. ``My wife, who's always
been a great supporter, said, `You should give this a shot.' And I did... and I
haven't regretted it.''
But does he like living in L.A.? ``There are aspects,'' he said. ``I like the
weather, obviously. It's a far cry from Cleveland, that's for sure. I don't
care if I never see snow again.... The access to various recreational pursuits
is great. You're an hour from the mountains, 40 minutes from the beach.''
It was in California that he discovered rodeo. ``I started roping and stuff,''
he said. ``It's been a great respite for me, a great therapy and a fun hobby.''
A drawback: ``It's a company town, so that can be somewhat disconcerting. I'm a
pretty private person, my wife and I.... The Hollywood scene, we don't do so
much.''
And he maintains ties to Cleveland, where his brother Marlin and his sister,
Marie Walker, still reside.
``I'm a diehard Browns fan until the day they put me under,'' he said. ``I've
never really been an Indians fan. It was great when they had that great run in
the '90s and stuff, but I've been a diehard Browns fan as long as I can
remember.''
R.D. Heldenfels writes about television for the Beacon Journal. Contact him at
330-996-3582 or rheld...@thebeaconjournal.com.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/columnists/rd_heldenfels/6817755.htm
Al Forno
Guests on the season premiere of Angel.
WB
Oct. 1
9-10pm ET
Al Forno
http://www.nypress.com/16/40/news&columns/feature.cfm
###
Michael Massee (TFWID)
Oct. 02, 2003
The Hollywood Reporter
Friend, villain claw their way to 'Catwoman'
It's the cat's meow for Alex Borstein and Michael Massee as both join Warner
Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow's "Catwoman" for French helmer Pitof. Di Novi
Pictures is producing. The film, centered on the DC Comics antiheroine from
"Batman," stars Halle Berry, Sharon Stone and Benjamin Bratt and is shooting in
Vancouver. Borstein, best known for her comedic work on Fox's "Mad TV," will
play Berry's best friend. Massee will get the chance to go toe-to-toe with
Berry by playing the heavy. His credits include "24," "Amistad" and "Lost
Highway." Borstein is repped by Endeavor and Mosaic Media. Massee is repped by
Terry Kelley and Associates and managed by Tracy Samuels. (Borys Kit)
Al Forno
CHRIS Noth isn't fond of sweaty palms. While Noth and Robert Patrick were
outside Saks Fifth Avenue filming their new movie "Bad Apple" on Wednesday, the
two attracted a crowd of mostly adoring female fans. After signing autographs
and posing for numerous pics, Noth asked a Saks employee to point him to the
nearest bathroom. "I need to wash my hands. I have been shaking hands with too
many people with sweaty palms, and it is disgusting," Noth said.
Al Forno
In addition to James Pickens, Jr., Daniel Sackheim directed last night's
episode and Perrey Reeves ('3') plays Rob Lowe's secretary.
Al Forno
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Oct. 22 -- Actress Mimi Rogers underwent the LASIK
procedure for nearsightedness with an advanced "glare and halo" preventing
technique pioneered by Dr. Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD.
Ms. Rogers was one of the first patients in the United States to undergo this
advanced LASIK following the publication of the landmark study published by Dr.
Boxer Wachler in the peer-reviewed Ophthalmology journal.
Mimi Rogers had long been wary of LASIK due to her large pupil size which
put her at risk of halos and glare at night, since older LASIK lasers used
small laser zone diameters. After she heard of Dr. Boxer Wachler's success
with preventing potential night vision difficulties, Ms. Rogers was confident
and comfortable with both the procedure and her surgeon. "I wouldn't have
trusted my eyes to anyone else," she remarked. "My night vision is just too
precious to risk and I was excited to hear about Dr. Boxer Wachler's results
with patients like myself."
Dr. Boxer Wachler's published technique involves precisely measuring the
patients pupil size in a dark room environment. The laser diameter is then
matched to the patient's pupil size and provides the widest laser coverage for
each patient's unique pupil size.
Following surgery, Ms. Rogers' was thrilled with the preservation of her
night vision with this advanced LASIK technique.
Dr. Boxer Wachler has been recognized by his peers as one of the top
refractive surgeons in the world. He has delivered over 150 scientific
presentations, publications, and book chapters on LASIK and other refractive
procedures. He has been an investigator with the Food and Drug Administration
for numerous clinical trials. He recently received the Achievement Award from
the American Academy of Ophthalmology for his career contributions.
The Boxer Wachler Vision Institute is a leading research and clinical site
that conducts trials for the Food and Drug Administration and for advances to
the field of refractive surgery. The Institute is renowned for its superior
patient care, advanced technology, and progressive educational programs for
eye doctors.
For further information, please contact Kirk Sullivan, +1-714-396-4794, for
The Boxer Wachler Vision Institute; or Jenny Marie of The Boxer Wachler Vision
Institute, +1-310-435-7533.
SOURCE The Boxer Wachler Vision Institute
Al Forno
Daily Variety
Oct. 29, 2003
Jason Beghe
By JILL FEIWELL, DANA HARRIS
Jason Beghe ("Picket Fences," "Chicago Hope") has signed on for a minimum of
six episodes of the NBC drama "American Dreams." Thesp, whose has previously
guested on "The District" and "Lyons Den," among others, will play a sergeant
in the Vietnam war.
###
SPOILERS included in program descriptions.
JASON BEGHE
SUNDAY, NOV 2
THE LYON’S DEN - (10-11 p.m. ET)
“Ex”
JACK DEFENDS FBI AGENT AND FACES OFF AGAINST EX-LOVER IN COURT; JEWEL AND OSCAR
WINNER CLIFF ROBERTSON GUEST-STAR -- Jack (Rob Lowe) is shocked to confront a
former lover (guest star Jewel) who is a Department of Justice attorney
assigned to prosecute his client, an FBI agent (guest star Jason Beghe) on
charges of espionage -- but thanks to Grant (Kyle Chandler), Jack discovers the
G-man's suspicious ex-girlfriend (guest star Yancy Butler), who is the
government's key witness. Elizabeth Mitchell, Matt Craven, Frances Fisher,
David Krumholtz and James Pickens Jr. also star and Oscar winner Cliff
Robertson (“Charly”) guest-stars as the law firm's head of security.
###
BLYTHE DANNER (FtF)
THURSDAY, NOV 6
WILL & GRACE - (9-9:30 p.m. ET)
“Heart Like a Wheelchair”
MAMA'S BOYS MAKE THE WORST DATES; EMMY-NOMINEE DYLAN MCDERMOTT AND OSCAR
NOMINEE JOHN CLEESE GUEST-STAR - Continuing his new role as caretaker for a
disabled Marilyn (guest star Blythe Danner), a resentful Will (Eric McCormack)
takes his wheelchair-bound mother for an afternoon roll in the park and bumps
into an attractive bachelor Tom (Emmy-nominated guest star Dylan McDermott,
“The Practice”) wheeling an invalid of his own. Using his mother as a
reason for a daily rendezvous in the park, Will attempts to build up the
courage to ask Tom out. Elsewhere, Karen continues her lifelong quest to hunt
down hubby-stealing Lorraine tracking her to a room at the Knickerbocker hotel
only to discover occupant to be her father Lester (Oscar-nominated guess star
John Cleese, “A Fish Called Wanda”). Sean Hayes and Debra Messing also
star.
###
PAUL McCRANE (Leonard Betts)
THURSDAY, NOV 13
ER - (10-11 p.m. ET)
“Death and Taxes”
BUSY DR. LEWIS MAKES PLANS FOR DINNER WITH PATIENT -- BUT THE WORLD INTERFERES;
EMMY WINNER BOB NEWHART GUEST-STARS -- A busy Dr. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield)
plans a home-cooked dinner with the elderly Hollander (Emmy Award-winning guest
star Bob Newhart, "The Bob Newhart Show") -- her depressed patient who is going
blind -- treats a stressed-out housewife (guest star Betsy Brandt), arranges
for an IRS audit, and then hides the detached arm of the nasty Dr. Romano (Paul
McCrane). Elsewhere, Neela (Parminder Nagra) and Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) treat
a vulnerable 18-year-old (guest star Efren Antonio Ramierez) who was attacked
in jail and Dr. Gallant (Sharif Atkins) must gamble with a risky hospital
transfer to help a young septic cancer patient. Meanwhile, Dr. Kovac (Goran
Visnjic) clashes with Dr. Corday (Alex Kingston) over the treatment of a
patient (guest star Dohn Norwood) she suspects needs an appendectomy and nurse
Sam (Linda Cardellini) parks her precocious son (guest star Oliver Davis) in
the E.R. for a day where the kid gets an eyeful. Ming-Na also stars.
###
MIMI ROGERS
Monday, November 17
LAS VEGAS - (9-10 p.m. ET)
“Luck Be Lady”
THE SOUND OF MUSIC CAN TEMPT ANY STALKER -- When a pop diva (guest star Sheryl
Lee Ralph) decides to hold the concert at the Montecito, Mary (Nikki Cox)
becomes her chaperone, while Ed (James Caan) finds himself reunited with his
lustful former CIA partner (guest star Mimi Rogers, "Lost in Space") who is
currently working for performer. However, their stroll down memory lane is cut
short when the diva's stalker, who believes he is her husband, uses the
performance as a prime opportunity to say hello to his wife. Elsewhere, Sam
(Vanessa Marcil) attempts to evict a wealthy businessman who refuses to gamble
and makes lavish demands from one of the hotel's prime suites, while Nessa
(Marsha Thomason) tries to do the right thing by helping a slightly under-aged
gambler collect on her winnings. Josh Duhamel, James Lesure and Molly Sims also
star.
###
PAUL McCRANE & DONAL LOGUE
THURSDAY, NOV 20
ER - (10-11 p.m. ET)
“Freefall”
THANKSGIVING BRINGS FIRE FROM THE SKY RAINING DOWN ON SHORT-HANDED EMERGENCY
STAFF -- On Thanksgiving, the staff struggles with a shortage of doctors as
Abby (Maura Tierney) treats an HIV-positive woman (guest star Amy Pietz ) who
thinks she might be pregnant while suffering from severe bleeding and an
unexpected fiery holocaust in the sky threatens to engulf everyone in the
hospital. Nearby, Dr. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) is unaware that her
"ex-husband" Chuck (guest star Donal Logue ) was involved in the disaster.
Elsewhere, Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane) threatens to file a serious complaint
against the brash Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Romano continues to ride medical
student/nurse Abby with tough medical questions -- even as she wonders about
what Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) might be doing that same day in Africa. Laura
Innes, Alex Kingston, Goran Visnjic, Sharif Atkins, Parminder Nagra and Linda
Cardellini also star.
Al Forno
TWENTY-FIVE HOLLYWOOD STARS STACK THEIR CHIPS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER IN BRAVO'S
'CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN' HOSTED BY KEVIN POLLAK
BEN AFFLECK, HANK AZARIA, DON CHEADLE, DAVID CROSS, PETER FACINELLI, CARRIE
FISHER, TOM GREEN, ALLISON JANNEY, RON LIVINGSTON, EMILY PROCTER, MIMI ROGERS,
PAUL RUDD, RICHARD SCHIFF, DAVID SCHWIMMER, MARTIN SHEEN, SCOTT STAPP, AND
NICOLE SULLIVAN AMONG THE STARS CONTENDING FOR THE QUARTER-MILLION DOLLAR
CHARITY PRIZE POOL
NEW ORIGINAL SERIES PREMIERES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 AT 9PM
NEW YORK -- October 29, 2003 -- Beginning Tuesday, December 2 (9:00-10:00 p.m.
ET), Bravo will offer viewers a look into the private world of Hollywood poker
games with the new original six-part, weekly, one-hour series, "Celebrity Poker
Showdown," hosted by Kevin Pollak.
"Poker has been a cultural phenomenon for decades and it is currently one of
Hollywood's hottest underground activities," said Joshua Malina, executive
producer of "Celebrity Poker Showdown" and star of "The West Wing." "I know
viewers will love to be a part of this event. The intensity of the competition
and the sharp, funny interaction among the celebrities were everything we hoped
for."
Filmed recently before a live audience at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas,
each episode of "Celebrity Poker Showdown" will feature five celebrities
competing against each other for a piece of the $250,000 prize pool in a game
of No Limit Texas Hold’em poker for the charity of their choice. Each week a
new crop of stars will take to the table to challenge their peers. The winner
from each week’s game will go on to compete in the championship final sixth
episode. Viewers will have the inside track on the hands the different players
are holding via hidden cameras. They will also be able to hear from the
eliminated players, who will watch the remainder of their respective matches
from the 'Loser’s Lounge,' via closed circuit television.
All players are guaranteed at least $5,000 in prize money. Just for making it
to the finals, fifth place will win $7,500, fourth place will win $10,000,
third place will win $12,500 and second place will walk away with $20,000 for
their charity. The "Celebrity Poker Showdown" champion will walk away with
$100,000 for the charity of their choice.
The twenty-five players, including seven Emmy Award winners, three Golden Globe
winners, two Grammy Award winners and one Academy Award winner, are broken down
into five games:
Game 1 - Premieres Tuesday, December 2, 2003
Ben Affleck, Don Cheadle, David Schwimmer, Emily Proctor, Willie Garson
Game 2 - Premieres Tuesday, December 9, 2003
Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Timothy Busfield
Game 3 - Premieres Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Hank Azaria, Michael Ian Black, Peter Facinelli, Nicole Sullivan, Mo Gaffney
Game 4 - Premieres Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Paul Rudd, Ron Livingston, Sarah Silverman, Shannon Elizabeth, Coolio
Game 5 - Premieres Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Mimi Rogers, David Cross, Tom Green, Carrie Fisher, Scott Stapp
The Championship Game - Premieres Tuesday, January 13, 2004
"Celebrity Poker Showdown" is hosted by comedian/actor Kevin Pollak ("A Few
Good Men," "The Usual Suspects") joined by expert poker commentator Phil
Gordon. Gordon is a world class poker player who has won nearly $1,000,000 in
poker tournaments in the last two years including a 4th place finish in the
2001 World Series of Poker and a first place finish in the World Poker Tour:
Aruba (professional division) in 2002.
"Celebrity Poker Showdown" is produced by Picture This Television in
association with Bravo. Marcia Mulé and Bryan Scott, Andrew Hill Newman and
Joshua Malina are the executive producers. Frances Berwick, Amy Introcaso-Davis
and Shari Levine are the executive producers for Bravo. Cingular Wireless is
the official sponsor of "Celebrity Poker Showdown."
Picture This Television, founded in 1997 by partners Marcia Mulé and Bryan
Scott, has produced numerous series and specials for television worldwide
including the Emmy Award-winning series "TV411" for PBS and "Intimate
Portraits: Jennie Garth" and "Weddings of a Lifetime" both for Lifetime. An
avid poker player, Joshua Malina is best known as Will Bailey on NBC’s Emmy
Award-winning "The West Wing" and Jeremy Goodwin in the critically acclaimed
series "Sports Night." Malina has also appeared in Aaron Sorkin's "The American
President" and made his professional acting debut in the Broadway production of
Sorkin’s "A Few Good Men." Andrew Hill Newman has written, produced and acted
in various television series including producing and writing three series for
Nickelodeon, "The Amanda Show," "All That" and "Drake & Josh." As an actor,
Andrew has appeared in seven feature films, two Broadway shows, three
Off-Broadway shows and guest-starred in fifty episodes of over three-dozen
different television series.
Bravo, an NBC Cable Network since December 2002, is currently seen in more than
73 million homes and was the first service dedicated to film and the performing
arts when it launched in December 1980. Today, Bravo offers innovative arts and
entertainment programming with a unique point of view featuring original
series, feature films (both independent and mainstream), theater, dance, music
and documentaries. Bravo boasts critically-acclaimed original programming --
including "Inside the Actors Studio" hosted by James Lipton, Emmy Award-winning
"Cirque du Soleil Fire Within" and this summer’s breakout hit "Queer Eye for
the Straight Guy." For more information visit www.bravotv.com.
# # #